Telegraph-key.



PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904.

R. M. WOOD.

TELEGRAPH KEY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1904.

N0 MODEL- Snow 1km 61mm, J,

qvlhwwaeo I UNiTEn STATES Patented November 29, 1904.

ROYE M. WOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,160, dated November29, 1904. Application filed May 9, 1904:. Serial No. 207,088. (Nomodel.)-

To (LU 11/72/0771, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Row: M. \Voon, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Telegraph-Keys, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to telegraplrkeys, and has for its object toprovide a horizontallyswinging key to increase the transmitting speed.

A further object is to provide a spring-actuated key which shall be verysensitive and easy to operate.

A further object is to provide means for regulating the tension of thekey-spring, so that the resiliency of the key can be adjusted to suitthe operator.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 aplan View, of the key. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2, and Fig. i is a transverse section on the line t 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 denotes the base of the key,and it is provided with threaded stems 7, whereby it is fastened to thetable. The key comprises a horizontally-swinging lever 8, having at itsouter end the usual button 9. The inner end of the levcr is secured to aleaf-spring 10, which is fastened in a block 11 on the base. A. frame 12is attached to the base near the front edge thereof, through which thekey extends. Contact-screws 18 extend through the side Walls of theframe, so that when the key is swung back and forth in a horizontalplane the circuit will be closed by contact with the points of eitherone of the screws, they also serving to regulate the stroke of the key.The spring 10 renders the key verysensitive and easy to operate andreturns it to its normal position between the contact-points of thescrew 13 after each stroke.

The block 11, in which the spring 10 is fastened, is cut away on bothsides of the latter,

'as at 14, to receive blocks 15, which are connected by athumb-screw 16,extending through a slot 17 in the spring. By loosening the screw theblocks can be slid forward over the spring, as shown by dotted lines inFig. 1. This shortens up the spring, and therefore stiflens it. Theresiliency of the key can therefore be adjusted to suit the operator.

A switch-lever 18 is pivoted to the base near its rear end at 19. Thecontact for the switch comprises a thin strip 20, which is clampedbetween the bottom of the frame 12 and an insulating-block 21 on thebase.

The use of this key eliminates the liability to telegraphers paralysis,there being no strain on the wrist, because the entire forearm can beused in the sidewise movement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A telegraph-key comprising a base, a block thereon, a leaf-springfastened in said block and carrying the key-lever, and blocks adjustablealong the spring for regulating the tension thereof.

2. A telegraph-key comprising a base, a block thereon, a leaf-springfastened in said block and carrying a horizontally-swinging lever, andblocks adjustable along the spring for regulating the tension thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROYE M. WOOD. Witnesses:

SIGNA FELTSKOG, H. Gr. BATCHELOR.

